Last year's winner a "dark horse" while points leader to make LVMS debut

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Hornaday sees himself as the dark horse this year.
David Allio

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has been traveling to Las Vegas Motor Speedway since it opened in 1996. So far, only two drivers – Jack Sprague and Mike Skinner – have managed to win more than one Smith’s 350. Ron Hornaday, a veteran of the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series, competed in the first Truck Series race here, which also was the series’ 1996 season finale. He finished 10th and clinched the points championship.

Hornaday was winless here until last year, when he captured the Smith’s 350 checkered flag by holding off a determined Matt Craffton at the finish. Although he is the defending champion of the Smith’s 350 at LVMS, he doesn’t see himself as the favorite.

“The odds are definitely against this team coming into this weekend, but I would like to consider us the dark horse,” said Hornaday. “It's not a secret that we have struggled as a team this year but it takes more than just one factor to build success.”

The Palmdale, Calif. native will pilot the Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff Chevrolet here for Joe Dennette Motorsports. Although winless this year, he currently sits 10th in the points standings after finishing 14th last week at Kentucky Speedway.

“This is still a young team and although it hasn't been the year we hoped for the year is not over. I still believe we can finish strong and I think Vegas is a good start. I had success here last year and it's a track I enjoy racing at. Crew chief Richie Snyder and all the guys are working really hard and it's just a matter of time before that hard work pays off.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum is points leader Ty Dillon, who never has turned a lap at LVMS. Dillon, driver of the Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, will make his first appearance at LVMS on Saturday.

“I’m confident that we’ll have a fast truck at Las Vegas,” said Dillon. “My brother, Austin, won there in the past, and we’ll have the notes from that win to start off with on Friday when we unload. I really like racing on 1.5-mile tracks, and I’m excited to race in Las Vegas.”

With one win and five top-five finishes to date, Dillon also leads the 2012 Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings.

The Smith’s 350 is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, with the Sylvania SilverStar zXe Las Vegas Global RallyCross Championship scheduled at approximately 8:30 p.m. Spectator gates will open at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the Smith’s 350 and GRC event may be purchased at the LVMS ticket office, online at www.LVMS.com or by calling (702) 644-4444.